More People than Ever Think Green When Buying a Home

Monday, July 8, 2019

Nearly 60 percent of real estate agents have clients who are very or somewhat interested in sus-tainability, and 70 percent of residential and commercial agents and brokers reported that pro-moting energy efficiency in listings is either somewhat or very valuable, according to a new National Association of Realtors (NAR) report, which polled realtors about sustainability issues in the residential and commercial real estate markets and the preferences they are seeing consumers in their communities. "Realtors remain on the cutting edge of sustainability and continue to lead the conversation about energy efficiency in real estate," says NAR President John Smaby. The report also found that 83 percent of respondents said that solar panels were available in their markets, and 36 percent said that solar panels increased the perceived property value. A recent Zillow analysis shows that homes with solar energy systems sold for 4.1 percent more on average than others nationwide in the past year. "Homes with solar-energy systems often sell for more than comparable homes without solar power," says Zillow senior economist Sarah Mikhitarian. Zillow has launched a green initiative that rates the solar potential of more than 84 million homes nationwide using a Sun Number, which provides a sense of each home's solar energy potential and the energy savings that comes with it. "The Sun Number provides a starting point for potential energy savings, but speaking with a local expert can help homeowners decide whether it pencils out," Mikhitarian says. The NAR survey also found that transportation and commuting are important to their clients who way easy access to highways, short commute times and distance to work, and walkability.